Youth Flash, January 2012

Youth Flash
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January 2012

In this issue of Youth Flash, you will find the following:

Feature Article:
Leading by Example: Rwandan Youth Delegates address the UN
News from UN Offices
Youth in Action
Publications

Feature Article:
Karine RUSARO UTAMULIZA and Aloys NTEZIMANA were
present during the assembly as the only UN Youth Delegates
from the African region.
Leading by Example: Rwandan Youth
Karine And Aloys’ Experience While Attending UN
Delegates address the UN GA

by Rwandan Youth Delegates Karine RUSARO UTAMULIZA and From our very arrival in New York City for the opening day of
Aloys NTEZIMANA the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, it was
very exciting to sit together with staff members of our
“To be a United Nations youth delegate is more than an experience permanent mission to the UN to discuss youth issues in Rwanda
in life, it is an unforgettable memory, it is a motivation to take and our roles in addressing such issues during the third
citizenship responsibilities, as well as global responsibilities.” committee deliberations. A Closer consultation with entities
working on youth issues in Rwanda including the Ministry of
In October 2011, nearly 30 young people attended the 66th United
Nations General Assembly as members of official delegations of
their respective countries with a mandate to address youth
concerns. They participated in the Third committee (Social,
Humanitarian and Cultural Committee) where youth issues are
discussed. Despite the General Assembly strongly encouraging
Member States to promote this form of youth participation in
international decision making processes, there remains an under-
representation of youth from least developed countries (LDCs) in
their national delegations as youth delegates, and most notably,
from Africa. Thus, the question is, are young people from LDCs
unaware of the programme or do they just face a rocky road and
some challenges while lobbying for the establishment of a youth
delegate programme?

Despite under-representation from African countries, Rwanda is
one of the African countries which has already adopted the
programme, and subsequently, two young people from Rwanda
Breakfast meeting with all UN Youth Delegates

Youth Flash Newsletter January 2012

Youth, the National Youth Council, UNICEF- Rwanda and the The breakfast together with all United Nations youth delegates
Ministry of Foreign Affairs also provided another interesting and the briefing from staff members of UN Division for Social
opportunity to forward our work in this area. Policy and Development (Youth) provided us with an insight on
how the whole world in one voice is committed to addressing
youth issues.

Another intense delight and inspiration was the opportunity
offered to Youth Delegates to meeting with UN Secretary-
General Ban Ki-moon and addressing the third committee.

News from UN Offices
Accreditation and Registration to
the UN Conference on Sustainable
Development - Rio+20 Now Open
The innovative format for stakeholder participation articulated in
Agenda 21, known as “the Major Groups”, has afforded a high
level of engagement for representatives within the Rio+20
Karine Rusaro Utamuliza addressing the third committee process. To continue your engagement and participate in the UN
Conference on Sustainable Development - Rio+20 being held in
20-22 June 2012, please read carefully the information below:
Our impression, which was true according to how we had been
assisted, was that we were considered Rwandan youth experts in a) Registration of accredited groups
both the challenges which Rwandan youth face and the All participants are required to pre-register their attendance
policies/programme responses of the Government to address them, online. Pre-registration is automatically open to accredited
including at the international level. After getting accreditation groups:
(blue badge) with the title “Rwanda adviser” we felt really very
excited and strongly motivated to do our best to make sure that the - NGOs and Major Groups that are currently in
voice of Rwandan consultative status with ECOSOC as NGOs (including
youth was heard at the those on the roster through the list of the Commission
international level. on Sustainable Development)
- NGOs and Major Groups that were accredited to the
On the first day it was World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002
amazing to meet and sit
together with different Pre-registration will close on 20 May 2012. There will be no
diplomats, more registration after that date.
Ambassadors, other
officials and UN Staff b) Registration of Non-accredited groups
with one main purpose NGOs and other Major groups’ organisations that are NOT yet
“deliberating youth accredited to the United Nations, but wish to participate in the
related issues”. UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), will be
offered a one-time opportunity to become accredited to Rio+20.
It was very promising
to hear youth from Accreditation to Rio+20 will close on 20 February 2012. You
different corners of the cannot seek special accreditation for your organization after that
world evoking not only date.
Aloys Ntezimana (UN YD of Rwanda) youth issues specific to
shaking hands with SG Ban Ki-moon their nations but also More information on Accreditation and Registration to Rio+20
directing their attentions here:
towards the most alarming youth issues in different http://www.uncsd2012.org/registration
regions/continents.
c) Stay informed

www.un.org/youth 2


Receive the newsletter - Rio+20: Making it Happen - filled with UNEP/UNESCO YouthXchange
important deadlines and information for participants. Subscribe
online here
here. climate change and lifestyles
guidebook
Connect with the organizing partners for the Children and Youth
Major Group as soon as possible in order to receive important This guidebook is the first thematic guidebook that supports the
information pertaining to Rio+20. The contact information for the YouthXchange Initiative, created in 2001 to promote sustainable
organizing partners may easily be found on the official Conference lifestyles among young people (15-24) through education,
website at http://www.uncsd2012.org/major-groups dialogue, awareness raising and capacity building. Produced in
by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the
Read the Major Groups FAQs. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), the guidebook explores the links
YouthStart UNCDF between climate change and lifestyles and helps young people
consider the actions they can take towards more sustainable
lifestyles. It provides the scientific, political, economic, social
YouthStart, A UN Capital Development Fund programme in
partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, awarded US$ 7.2
million to 10 Financial Service Providers (FSPs) to design, test and
scale up financial services, in particular savings, for youth. During
2011, UNCDF disbursed US$1.2 million to enable the 10 FSPs
start testing their youth services and programmes.

In addition to financial support, UNCDF organized a 10-day
training in Senegal to build the capacity of FSPs on pilot testing
youth financial services, designing youth centered programs and
integrating financial and non-financial services. 32 representatives
from FSPs, UNCDF and other Youth Serving Organizations
participated in the training.
In order to disseminate the learning generated through YouthStart,
UNCDF published its paper “Listening to Youth”. The paper was
launched at a side event at the UN High Level Meeting on Youth
in July 2011 and presented in 3 other international conferences
within the youth microfinance field.

For more information please visit our website at www.uncdf.org

UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund
Nairobi, January 2012: In its fourth call for applications to the
UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund, UN-HABITAT will this year,
as in previous years, provide one million dollars to projects led by
young people aged 15-32 years who are piloting innovative and cultural perspectives of climate change while looking at the
approaches to employment, good urban governance, shelter and causes and effects of climate change and its human impacts and
secure tenure. responses. It explains these complex issues in accessible
language supported by practical tips, suggested activities, case
HABITAT invites young people based in cities and towns of the studies, best practices and web links for further information. The
developing world to apply for grants from the Fund of up to guidebook helps young people develop the critical skills they
$25,000 per project. The call for applications starts on 15 February need to address the challenges of climate change through their
2012 and comes to a close on 15 April 2012. personal every-day choices and actions and can be used to
support courses and projects that promote greater understanding
For more information on the Fund and the youth programme at of climate change and lifestyles among youth.
UN-HABITAT, please visit our website at www.unhabitat.org
To download the guidebook, please visit:
http://www.unep.org/publications/contents/pub_details_search.a
sp?ID=6216

www.un.org/youth 3


Norway. Prof Oyebanji Oyelaran-oyeyinka, who led the UN-
For more information, please contact Ms. Khairoon Abbas, UNEP HABITAT delegation stated in the conclusion of the meeting
DTIE, tel: +33 144 377618, email: Khairoon.Abbas@unep.org. that the agency will continue to advance this initiative and
partnership with sister agencies, member states and most
importantly with youth-led organization.
UN-HABITAT and partners hold
meeting to better involve young
Launch event for 2011 World Youth
people in UN activities Oslo, 15 Dec 11
Report: youth perspectives on the
UN-HABITAT, as a member of the UN Interagency Network on pursuit of decent work in changing
Youth Development with support from the Government of Norway times
recently organised a planning meeting between key government
officials, UN and youth organisations. The 2011 World Youth Report explores the transition of young
people from schools and training institutions into the labour
At the opening of the meeting, held in Oslo on 3 December 2011, market, a phase marking a critical period in the life cycle. The
Arvinn Eikeland Gadgil, Norwegian Junior Minister of Foreign report will be officially launched at a side event to the
Affairs/Development cooperation, invited the participants to think Commission on Social Development on 6th February, 1:15-2:30
in an unfettered manner and come up with concrete proposals for pm in Conference Room 7, NLB, bringing together main
enhancing youth engagement in the UN system. Ronan S Farrow, contributors to the report as well as representatives from
Special Adviser to the US Secretary of State and Director of the Member States, the UN system, youth and the private sector.
State Department’s Global Youth Issues office also joined in
calling for a historic legacy in youth empowerment through the UN For more information on the report see ‘Publications’ below.
system.

"Strengthening partnerships among nations committed to fostering
youth voices and jobs is critical to global stability and prosperity.” Youth in Action
stated Farrow, “Multilateral organizations can and should play a
key role in coordinating such partnerships."
Rio+20 Participation Guide for
On the eve of the meeting the renowned Human Rights Expert and Youth
former member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Justice Carsten Smiths inspired the participants to learn from the
Rio+Twenties, one of the organizing partners for the Children
indigenous movement to form a permanent forum.
and Youth sector, has prepared a Participation Guide for young
people designed to make the Rio+20 process understandable and
UN-HABITAT was tasked by its Governing Council (GC Res. provide the tools to effectively involve young people. The guide
23/8) to work together with Member States and other UN agencies offers specific information for youth, identifies ways to make a
to enhance youth engagement in the UN system in April 2011. real difference and shares a lot of best practices, tips and tricks
UN-HABITAT recognizes the global importance of youth. Since and existing examples on youth activism.
2007, more than half of the world’s population lives in an urban
context, and the most marginalized of those are often young
women and men living in slums and settlements. It is estimated
that as many as 60% of all urban dwellers will be under the age of
Publications
18 by 2030.
Upcoming report: World Youth
The two-day planning meeting was held to discuss a scenario Report 2011: youth perspectives on
report “Youth 21: Building an Architecture for Youth Engagement
in the UN System”. This report explores how youth can be more the pursuit of decent work in
meaningfully engaged in governance at the global level, changing times
specifically within the UN.
The World Youth Report 2011 explores the transition of young
The meeting discussed detailed steps in organising a meeting of people from schools and training institutions into the labour
stakeholders “Youth 21: Building for Change” in Nairobi in March market, a phase marking a critical period in the life cycle. The
next year. Please see the outcome statement from this meeting for current employment scenario for young people, worsened by the
eminent participants. The planning group has been established to global economic crisis, poses an urgent challenge with long-term
steer the Youth 21 initiative with support from Government of implications for both young people and society as a whole.

www.un.org/youth 4


For the first time, the 2011 edition of the World Youth Report is
largely dedicated to the voices of young people themselves. The
report is based on contributions from youth and representatives of
youth-led organizations to an e-discussion, in which they shared
their own views, experiences and recommendations on preparing
for, entering, and remaining active in the workforce. The 2011
edition of the report is also the first to be produced in an interactive
website that allows readers to engage on youth employment issues:
how young people are experiencing and addressing employment
challenges; where and how young people are succeeding in
employment; how youth employment interacts with social
practices; and what Governments can do to help prepare young
people in the transition from education to work.

The report aims to shed light on such complex issues, while
bringing the voices of young people themselves into fora where
youth issues are discussed and acted upon. The report will be
officially launched at a side event to the Commission on Social
Development on 6th February, 1:15-2:30 pm in Conference Room
7, NLB, bringing together main contributors to the report as well
as representatives from Member States, the UN system, youth and
the private sector. The report will be available online soon!

www.un.org/youth 5

Youth Flash, January 2012

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